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In my travels, I’ve found that most folks don’t do a lot of thinking on what “the law” actually entails.

eg: Without enforcement provisions, a law is meaningless.

Call Ohio Crime Stoppers (614) 461-8477 (Columbus)
—this is an informational call only—DO NOT pretend to report an actual crime.
Just ask about the procedures on how you can report your suspicions about a woman who’s sexually active (assumed or whatever), and who is apparently not pregnant. Tell ’em you wanna make sure you know what to do if you suspect the law’s being violated; and because you’re strictly a law-n-order person you’ll expect the government to step in and do its duty, so you need to know how one would initiate an investigation into what could clearly be a serious crime etc etc etc. Great opportunity for improvisation and role-playing.

Here’s a short list of Republican Women in positions of power in Ohio who might benefit from that same call:
Theresa Gavarone – Ohio House, District 3
Marlene Anielski – Ohio House, District 6
Nan A. Baker – Ohio House, District 16

Alex Jones is a third-rate charlatan desperately trying to do what Rush Limbaugh—a first-rate charlatan—did thirty years ago: create and maintain an information vacuum for his listeners. What’s funny, in a pitiful sort of way, is that Jones’s listeners already distrust the sources on his list, with the exception of those they’ve never heard of.

The drooling moron who went to Comet Ping Pong with an AR-15 now says he has some regrets:

Welch told the Times he learned about “Pizzagate” from friends and then conducted his own online investigation once he had internet installed at his house. His research convinced him that “something nefarious was happening.”

[…]

Though he didn’t tell the Times why he brought the AR-15 into Comet Ping Pong, court documents reveal he allegedly told police that he was armed to “rescue” the children.

Welch admitted to the Times that “the intel on this wasn’t 100 percent” after he found no children inside of the restaurant.

[…]

The 28-year-old, who is expected to appear in court again Thursday, said he wished Sunday had gone differently and he had not held up the restaurant.

“I regret how I handled the situation,” he told the Times.

[link omitted]

“The intel on this wasn’t 100 percent.” Let that roll around in your head for a moment, then add in the fact that this chowderhead can (could?) own a freaking arsenal. Sleep tight.

Kimberley, a minor correction: by and large, more people don’t buy guns after the NRA does its usual trademark ooga-booga. Instead, the people who already own guns buy more of them.

Bob, a minor correction: as I understand it, the magazine isn’t what converts an AR to full-auto, it’s the trigger and/or lower receiver (anyone who knows more than I do, please chime in).

Bob, Donald Trump doesn’t know from nuance. Twitter is the perfect medium for a 140-character mind like his.

Kellyanne Conway implied that Trump reacted to a news report, yet the Trump camp has noisily insisted The Dear Leader hadn’t seen the news reports about Boeing’s CEO quietly suggesting the incoming administration might want to ease off the anti-trade rhetoric before he went on his Twitter rampage. Either Conway is lying or the rest of Trump’s people are lying. Or both, it’s hard to tell sometimes.

Bob, Josh Marshall has a scary thought: perhaps Donald Trump literally (literally!) can’t divest himself of his business holdings because that would precipitate a collapse of the whole house of cards. Imagine how Trump would react to that.

I’m not convinced Trump is manipulating the stock market. It seems more likely he’s trying to bully defense contractors into getting onboard with his agenda.

Most people don’t understand the concept of least-bad options.

Steve Benen stated the obvious today: Trump is nominating people who are fundamentally opposed to the functions of the departments they are to head. That’s what Rs do, but Trump is being unusually blunt about it. (For what it’s worth, Kevin Drum reports that, according to Pew Research, Democrats loathe Trump’s cabinet choices.)

Let’s assume, purely for the sake of argument, that climate change isn’t happening (it clearly and provably is, but go with me on this). What’s the worst that could possibly happen if in the next couple of decades the US—hell, the world—converted to low–carbon-emissions technologies for everything? Seriously, what could happen? A few extraction industries would bite the dust, but their workers could be retrained and employed in the new (cleaner) industries; a few CEOs would have to make do on the interest their investments are generating, poor babies; and … I’m struggling to think of a third downside. Even if climate change were a hoax—it’s not—very little bad happens. And at the very least, it’s a thumb in the eye for OPEC. You’d think every Righty would leap at that opportunity.

I’m reminded of the idiocy over old-growth forests back in the ’90s, when loggers and mill workers were pitted against them damn’ elitist tree-hugging environmentalists! over the Northern Spotted Owl. What the lumber companies wanted everyone to overlook was that there wasn’t much old-growth forest left, so those workers were going to be losing their jobs in 5–10 years, no matter what (plus, the companies were shipping unprocessed logs rather than lumber because there was more profit that way).

Again, the nomination of Andrew Puzder—someone who disagrees with the very existence of the department—as Secretary of Labor should surprise no one. It’s what Rs do.

RIP, Greg Lake. Cancer sucks.

My fearless prediction: John Kasich will sign the “fetal heartbeat” bill and make all the usual fetus-fetishist noises about “the sanctity of life” and “unborn babies” (does that make us all pre-deceased corpses, I wonder?) and “protecting the innocent” in a big, showy ceremony. As an R, he can’t do anything else. If I’m wrong, I’ll cop to it.

Damn, I do honk on, don’t I?

(Bob, you missed Chez’s pre-recorded fuck at 53:15.)

–alopecia

Scopedog

I think I have a mad crush on Kimberley.

Actually, scratch that–I think I am madly in love with Kimberley.

Badgerite

About those tweets that sent Boeing stock tumbling, it would seem to me that perhaps that would be a tortious interference with Boeing business relationships. Especially so since what Trump Monster tweeted seemed to be factually challenged as usual.
The Paula Jones case did in fact establish that a private citizen could in fact sue a sitting president. So, there you go.

ProudLiberalAlways

Great show today!!!! Kimberley is a great co-host—–Chez better watch out!! (just kidding)! BTW, if Kasich signs that bill, everyone should call HIS office and schedule pap smears for themselves AND their dogs & cats. Just to let him know what you think of his level of expertise.

Softbank has been planning that major investment in the US forever. Trump has very little if anything at all to do with it. Softbank has probably been planning their expansion into the US since before they started running the White Family ads. Which Softbank should totally start running here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJcvRLKO_pU

Badgerite

Why do I get the feeling that they are planning on treating the United States like they treated Iraq? The recent GOP tax proposal sounds like one of those experimental schemes they tried in Iraq that didn’t work out so good. They’re going to tank the economy again. Just watch.

The people that voted for Obama and turned to Herr Gropenfuhrer in this election I think it has nothing to do with policy positions and everything to do with the “outsider” factor and the cult of personality.

I almost choked when you called up about the Pap Smear! You know it’s a good podcast when at least one person has breathing problems from laughter.

Chris Budesa

I made donation to PP. minimum is $5

Anna Haney

I called earlier today and I think I was the first or at least one f the first people to call. The receptionist seemed confused,then tried to get my personal information lol. I just went for it. Kimberly is a bad influence lol.

Anna Haney

I cranked called and the receptionist seemed so shocked and confused, I think I was thew first lol. I just jumped in and Went for it!